What do you do if your leadership style needs shaping and guidance?

Desde mi experiencia, creo que es crucial incorporar la reflexión y la autoevaluación en el enfoque de liderazgo. La habilidad de analizar sus propias decisiones y acciones críticamente es fundamental para detectar oportunidades de mejora y modificar su estilo de liderazgo. Este proceso no solo se beneficia de la retroalimentación de otros, sino también de un análisis introspectivo sobre sus propios valores, principios y objetivos. Tomarse tiempo de manera regular para reflexionar puede ayudar a que sus acciones estén más alineadas con su visión de liderazgo y las expectativas de su equipo.

Solicit honest feedback. Ask your employees, partners, or even a trusted mentor for their honest assessment of your leadership. What are your strengths? Where do they see room for improvement? Their outside perspective can be illuminating.

Reflect on your strengths and areas for improvement, seek feedback from peers and mentors, and invest in leadership development programs to refine your skills and enhance your effectiveness.

Constructive criticism, when approached with an open mind, can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and development. Embrace feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow, recognizing that it is a continuous process rather than a one-time event. Remember to cultivate a culture of feedback within your team, encouraging open communication and transparency. By creating a safe and supportive environment for sharing feedback, you empower both yourself and your team members to strive for continuous improvement and excellence in leadership.

En mi experiencia, además de buscar un mentor, es esencial adoptar el aprendizaje adaptativo en su desarrollo como líder. Esto implica poner en práctica de manera activa los conocimientos y recomendaciones de su mentor en escenarios reales, y hacer ajustes basados en las reacciones y resultados observados. Si bien los consejos teóricos son útiles, es la implementación práctica y la adaptación continua lo que verdaderamente define a un líder eficaz. Este método le permite experimentar, aprender de los fallos y ajustar su estilo de liderazgo a las necesidades en evolución de su equipo y organización, asegurando así un desarrollo constante y pertinente en su carrera.

Having a mentor can be invaluable for refining your leadership style. A mentor offers guidance, support, and insights based on their own experiences. They provide a fresh perspective, helping you navigate challenges and develop your leadership qualities. A mentor encourages growth and helps you become the best leader you can be.

Have a variety of Mentors from different parts of your life and network. They will provide an array of perspectives, support, guidance and feedback to enable you to refine and grow your leadership abilities.

A colleague's spouse is a family therapist yet they regularly consult their own therapist to maintain a healthy relationship. I often share this story to highlight the value of finding a mentor. Even the most seasoned professionals can benefit from the fresh perspectives that a mentor provides. With their experience, a mentor can refine your leadership style and elevate your career. It’s also important to set aside any pride that may prevent you from seeking guidance and embrace learning through an outsider’s eyes. A mentor’s guidance isn’t just about direct advice; it's about gaining insights that can challenge you and help you grow professionally and personally.

A mentor provides invaluable guidance and support, drawing from their own experiences to help navigate challenges and opportunities. A key aspect of the mentor-mentee relationship is the opportunity to gain insights from someone who has walked a similar path. By learning from their successes and setbacks, you can develop a deeper understanding of effective leadership strategies and approaches. It's important to approach the mentorship relationship with humility and openness, recognizing that your mentor's role is to offer guidance and encouragement rather than dictate your actions. Embrace their feedback and challenge yourself to grow and develop your unique leadership qualities with their support.

Además, se recomienda promover una cultura de colaboración en su equipo. Al combinar el aprendizaje continuo con la colaboración, no solo impulsará su propio desarrollo, sino que también facilitará el crecimiento de su equipo junto a él. Fomentar la participación activa y el intercambio de ideas entre los integrantes del equipo contribuye a crear un ambiente donde todos pueden aprender de los demás y se valoran las distintas perspectivas. Esta práctica no solo mejora su estilo de liderazgo, sino que también fortalece la cohesión de su equipo y estimula la innovación colectiva.

Self reflection and awareness will help you with embracing a growth mindset. Be curious, ask questions, be open to listening to a variety of perspectives. What do you feel you need to develop? What is the feedback telling you? This information guides you on where you can focus learning, training, upskilling and the like.

Continuous learning is crucial for leaders seeking to refine their style. This involves both formal education, like workshops, and informal learning, such as reading books or listening to podcasts. By exploring various perspectives, you expand your understanding of effective leadership. Stay open-minded and incorporate new ideas into your leadership approach.

Desde mi experiencia, sugiero que, además de practicar la empatía, es fundamental desarrollar la inteligencia emocional para cualquier líder que desee mejorar su estilo de liderazgo. La inteligencia emocional no solo implica la capacidad de reconocer y comprender las propias emociones y las de los demás, sino también la habilidad para manejarlas adecuadamente en el entorno laboral. Al reforzar esta habilidad, se puede gestionar mejor las situaciones de estrés, conflictos y cambios, lo que lleva a tomar decisiones más fundamentadas y a un liderazgo más resonante y adaptable. Este enfoque integral no solo mejora las relaciones interpersonales, sino que también incrementa el rendimiento del equipo.

Some people still tune out at the mention of empathy, it boggles the mind. A truly effective leader must grasp the emotions of those they work with. Investing time to understand these feelings not only benefits your team but also boosts their work efforts. Empathy shapes your approach to challenging conversations, tailoring your message to be more comprehensible and, dare I say, sensitive to the emotions your team members may be experiencing. It also influences how you celebrate the achievements of others, acknowledging that while some may shy away from public praise, they still appreciate recognition. Empathy is a foundational tool that enhances your leadership style and fosters a healthier team environment.

Empathy is indeed a powerful asset for any leader. It's not just about understanding others' feelings; it's about genuinely connecting with them and creating an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. When leaders prioritize empathy, they foster trust, collaboration, and a sense of belonging within their team. By considering the emotional well-being of team members and acknowledging diverse perspectives, leaders can navigate challenges more effectively and inspire greater engagement and motivation. As you continue to refine your leadership style, remember that empathy is not just a skill but a mindset that can transform the way you lead and interact with others.

Start by defining what you aim to achieve as a leader whether it is fostering a more collaborative team environment , improving communication or enhancing decision making processes. These goals help in guiding your actions and shaping your leadership approach. By focusing on specific objectives you not only provide clarity for yourself but also set a clear direction for your team with right alignment and motivation.

By defining specific objectives for both personal growth and team advancement, you provide a roadmap for progress and success. Clear goals serve as a guidepost, helping you stay focused and motivated in your leadership journey. Regularly revisiting and adjusting these goals ensures they remain relevant and aligned with your evolving needs and aspirations. Moreover, transparently communicating these goals to your team fosters alignment and accountability, driving collective efforts towards shared objectives. As you work towards achieving these milestones, celebrate successes, and learn from challenges, continuously refining your leadership style along the way.

The significance of reflecting on one's actions cannot be emphasized enough. We get caught up in our daily lives and the busyness of everyday that we truly ignore to assess our choices, and we end up not knowing if our choices are actually having positive outcomes or not. For that, it's necessary to pause every once in a while, think about all your choices, and determine what needs improvement, and what needs drastic changes. Make reflection a regular thing and block a time for it on your calendar.

By taking the time to assess your actions, decisions, and their outcomes, you gain valuable insights into what works well and what can be improved. Schedule regular reflection sessions to review your leadership approach and its impact on your team and organization. Consider what aspects of your leadership style contribute to positive outcomes and where there may be opportunities for growth.

What type of leader do you want to be? If this is something that you are passionate about then answer that question first. What is about other leaders you have experienced or seen that you loved? Another way for you to start creating the type of leadership approach that will be impactful. A point to note is one person's great leader is not another's, and as such, how can you be a great all rounder that inspires, coaches, supports and motivates people to be their best.